Is Reincarnation Research Harmful to Evolution?

[Demi]

I've been wondering this: is it somehow harmful to one's spiritual evolution to think about and bring up past lives?

If our goal is to evolve spiritually the fastest possible way, which means becoming in tune with the universe / God/ all that's good, to achieve this we must "favor all good and leave what is not good alone"...

Since in most past lives we were less evolved that we are currently, is it better just to innocently experience our memories when they come to us, but not dwell with our minds on it, and instead put maximum attention on our present life, using all of our waking energy to focus on what good can be done in the only moment we have any influence on which is now?

Will dwelling on the past, or simply putting attention on it, keep us in bondage? Will it keep us stuck in the past, preventing our evolution now? Will it pull us down spiritually, such as remembering traumatic events, and will it pull others down, by enlivening past negativity in their awareness? A spiritual truth is: "What we put our attention on grows." So we must be careful with our attention.

Maybe that is the main reason most people do not remember their past lives?

What do you think?

 

[Mere Dreamer]

We have the healthiest present life when we learn ... gain knowledge. It is this that causes our inner evolution.


Knowledge is a combination of past experience (from yourself and others) with present experience.


Getting obsessed with past lives as if they define us now could be dangerous. So is obsession with a superstar or movie, or obsession with negative events and people who have hurt you ... etc. That kind of focus prevents new information from entering the mind. And when you miss information, you miss opportunities to learn.


So obsession can be damaging, no matter what the focus is. But I don't think studying past lives is inherently bad for us, any more than it is a bad idea to read books someone once wrote or to study history. The patterns we notice as a result of understanding the past will help us make wiser choices now. If we don't look for lessons everywhere, we will spend our lives knowing nothing and not realizing we don't know ... and that is not evolved.

 

[Demi]

I see what you mean. I agree that gaining knowledge is good, it's just that I wonder if getting emotionally involved with past life trauma might take much needed energy away from our current life. It's good to take the garbage out, but examining every single banana peel from the can might obstruct... the other house cleaning that needs to be done..?

 

[Sister Grey]

I understand what you're asking and have had similar thoughts. To be overly focused on the past, whether it's of this life or another, seems neurotic. All that matters is the present moment, and if I like chocolate chip cookies does it really matter if my fondness grew from this life's associations or another? And I'm guessing that if the point is to learn lessons we will learn them instinctually (as you say, by being in tune with the universe/God/all that's good), rather than having to intellectualize with conscious awareness. And I'd think we can weigh our souls down if we start conniving, 'hmm, if I help this person will it improve my karma, what's in this for me?' rather than just responding to a situation with 'goodness' or whatever other authentic response is in our nature. Anyway - for myself I don't need to know every detail of everyone I was (doubt any of my lives were more worthy of examination than the one I presently have and I hate wasting time :laugh: ) and all their little grudges and hurts, but - I'd just like to know if there is reincarnation so that's why I keep poking around, I guess.

 

[Mere Dreamer]

To be overly focused on the past, whether it's of this life or another, seems neurotic. All that matters is the present moment, and if I like chocolate chip cookies does it really matter if my fondness grew from this life's associations or another?

*laugh* If the question is about chocolate cookies, then no ... I'd call that past life obsession. On the other hand, what if there is a self-sabotaging pattern of response in your life that has no explanation you can think of? We're also not always aware that such a pattern exists ... so that the resulting negative effects are truly unconscious and outside of awareness.


I think those who remember past lives are usually guided by God/the universe/all that is good to the lives and experiences that will help us not only resolve the problems we're aware of ... but also the ones we haven't noticed yet.


Of course, it all comes down to attitude in the end. One can find essential information for personal growth and simply view it as a curiosity for collecting. In this case, no matter what one is exposed to (present or past life) there is little chance for growth.


Someone who wants to learn might become temporarily obsessed with anything (present or past life) and the process of learning will by its nature eventually break the obsession and cause them to move forward.


I think this is why many books of wisdom contain ideas along the lines of "those who search for wisdom will find it" and "don't force wisdom upon fools because they won't value it"...

 

[Eevee]

When researching your past lives, I think it is important what kind of research you focus on. It can be interesting and fun to research if you can find historical evidence that the past 'you' existed, and that the historical details you remember are correct. It might give you a boost in your belief that reincarnation is true.


But I think for a genuine researcher the focus should be on what you thought and felt during that lifetime, about yourself and your interactions with others. Because I think that is what evolves in one's life, and, as we believe, throughout our liveS.


Are we evolving in a positive way towards unity with the other souls that cross our paths? I think that is the question we should ask when researching our past lives. So that in 'the end' (whatever that may be) we can be all One again--spiritually.

 

[tanguerra]

I see what you mean. I agree that gaining knowledge is good, it's just that I wonder if getting emotionally involved with past life trauma might take much needed energy away from our current life. It's good to take the garbage out, but examining every single banana peel from the can might obstruct... the other house cleaning that needs to be done..?

Like many things in life there is no single answer to this question, other than 'it depends'. Everyone is an individual and some people process things differently from others. Some are obsessive, some are intuitive. There's no right or wrong way.


Discovering past life traumas and releasing them can be very healing. Doing historical research into a past life can be very interesting, educational and affirming as Evee says. Finding patterns that might be less than beneficial is a good way to make a decision not to keep repeating them.


Focussing too much attention on a past life because it is perhaps perceived as more interesting (dramatic, intense...) than the present one is probably unwise though. It would be a bit like someone who used to be rich or famous, but had fallen on hard times, talking about the past all the time, and using that as an excuse not to move on with their present life, wouldn't it?


Similarly, someone who has suffered a trauma can take a lot of time to get over it and will sometimes have their own way of dealing with things. Talking it over with others is usually helpful in making a person feel better though.

 

[Sister Grey]

QUOTE]*laugh* If the question is about chocolate cookies, then no ... I'd call that past life obsession. On the other hand, what if there is a self-sabotaging pattern of response in your life that has no explanation you can think of? We're also not always aware that such a pattern exists ... so that the resulting negative effects are truly unconscious and outside of awareness.


I was being facetious about the chocolate chip cookies, I meant them as an example of triviality, that is, meaning to say that not every detail of our daily lives matters as to whether it's past life related or not. I don't actually care much for chocolate chip cookies and rarely eat them, I didn't mean that I have an obsessive eating disorder.


I'm not of the belief that people who don't remember past lives are somehow inferior or fools, especially given that most people don't, but then, I suppose I would think that, given that I don't remember any.

 

[Mere Dreamer]

I was being facetious about the chocolate chip cookies, I meant them as an example of triviality, that is, meaning to say that not every detail of our daily lives matters as to whether it's past life related or not. I don't actually care much for chocolate chip cookies and rarely eat them, I didn't mean that I have an obsessive eating disorder.
I'm not of the belief that people who don't remember past lives are somehow inferior or fools, especially given that most people don't, but then, I suppose I would think that, given that I don't remember any.

Oh, goodness Sister Grey! I certainly hope I didn't hurt your feelings with that comment since I intended to enjoy your joke instead of "pick on" it. Please forgive me for not being clear enough. cover face (edit: I always feel pompous when typing "one" and so I use "you" generically ... and now I know why people use the other term. *sigh*)


I was very surprised by the meaning my words seem to have taken once they left my fingers, and would not for the world have communicated such an impression had I known it could be read that way.


And of course "not remembering a past life" doesn't make anyone a fool. Rather, one might say that a searcher for wisdom is doing well enough without needing the past life effect in their case. Well, I think we find what we need for each life, and that is that. There is no better or worse method for learning so long as one learns.


Serves me right for referring to an idea from a book I no longer respect...

 

[Demi]

Focussing too much attention on a past life because it is perhaps perceived as more interesting (dramatic, intense...) than the present one is probably unwise though. It would be a bit like someone who used to be rich or famous, but had fallen on hard times, talking about the past all the time, and using that as an excuse not to move on with their present life, wouldn't it?

LOL That's a good point. One's mind may easily become attracted to exploring a past life story. I find it natural, especially if it provides a much deeper insight into some historical events from the point of view of "being there". As for trauma, I'm not sure if seeing where it came from actually removes it for me... But I know some people have that experience.


As lot of people mention, it has a lot to do with attitude and knowing when such an interest is useful, and when it could be "too much". I've personally had really good experiences & met awesome people in the past life research communities whom I would never have met otherwise. And the most fascinating part would be when some of our "inner" experiences from past lives would match up - that kind of stuff there is no way to have "seen in a movie", because it's on the feeling level, or something really obscure, for example.


Another positive experience was when I wrote a historical novel from 18th Century Russia without doing any research beforehand, and after a year of writing discovered that ALL of it matched up. That gives one faith that there is something more profound in the universe, the fact that we can know things without knowing them...


As for the negative, I had my instances in regretting something from a PL, or missing people I knew, or just feeling that it took too much of time and attention away from my current life to "live" more people than one! And this is when I had to sometimes shut down on it for a while. I tend to get very deep into things, be it writing or studying something. So I have to put the brakes on sometimes and do a "reality check".


And again, I think most people interested in PL's research are really cool and interesting, and that's the main reason I stick around... It's the mystery of it, it brings one closer to the mystery of the Universe/God/Immortality, to know we don't die when we die, and to know we have been many different characters over time. I am more able to appreciate differences between people and that's been healing for me.


Demi

 

[dking777]

I've been wondering this: is it somehow harmful to one's spiritual evolution to think about and bring up past lives?

I had an interesting conversation with a law Professor in the early 70's. (He later entered politics on the world stage.) Someone in our community had taken my 'claim' of a past life seriously and the rumor of it had reached his ears. He wanted to pick my 'mind' first hand and find out for his self. He felt I had a genuine and sincere interest in the topic and expressed myself as such. On the other hand, he felt the topic should remain 'hidden' and out of sight from others who wouldn't treat it with 'genuine' and 'sincere' thoughts - but rather lead to 'idle curiosity' that could possibly led to unhealthy thoughts.


He expressed a time in history when 'reincarnation' went mainstream and Hollywood. (The Search for Bridey Murphey.) He said he had studied the aftermath of the 'craze' that swept the country after the film was released and he felt it led many a mind astray to chase after a topic for the wrong reason and not supported by 'spiritual motivation.' (I think that a part of my parents skepticism at the time was influenced by the aftermath of the movie - because they kept referring to 'Hollywood' putting wild ideas into my head.) As a child, I was NOT telling my story to 'impress' anyone. I was looking for help understanding it. At the time (as a child and teenager) I didn't agree with him or my parents. That it was 'unhealthy' or 'unwise' to talk about my past life with others. I was forbidden to talk about it around my siblings - because (according to my parents) it was planting 'wild ideas' in their heads and they were trying to 'make up stories' to compete with mine. (I even got 'duped' into believing one of my siblings claims - only to have them laugh in my face afterwards and tell me they had made it all up - and accused me of doing the same to get attention.) I could only talk about it with 'certain elders' in my family - and if I went outside my family - I had to make sure I was talking with a mature, rational and logical mind before asking for help understanding my situation.


But as a teenager, I came to realize what was 'healthy' for me - didn't necessarily add up to being 'healthy' for everyone. As a teenager - I became very skeptical of other people's claims of a past life. I was sort of 'psychic' at the time - and didn't need another person to tell me about their past lives - I could 'sense' it inwardly if I needed to know about it. I had several encounters with people and told them "your chasing after your wild imagination." I got to witnessed first hand what my parents had accused me of - and what the Professor had mentioned in our conversation.


So I felt the topic of 'reincarnation' was like a 'double edged' sword. It could cut both ways. It could be beneficial to some and to some it could be detrimental. But, I had an understanding that physical life was a 'learning lesson' and some lessons where by 'mistakes.' If a person wanted to chase after their 'imagination' for awhile - they would eventually learn from it and in the long run - benefit from it. In the end, I came to respect and appreciate the skepticism my family and friends had expressed toward my claim. It made me question my own self and motives. I think that is very healthy for everyone.


The question is a good question for everyone to explore - and I think it is going to depend on the individual and where they are at with their own pursuit of their hidden inner truth.


Sincerely,


DKing

 

[argonne1918]

He expressed a time in history when 'reincarnation' went mainstream and Hollywood. (The Search for Bridey Murphey.) He said he had studied the aftermath of the 'craze' that swept the country after the film was released and he felt it led many a mind astray to chase after a topic for the wrong reason and not supported by 'spiritual motivation.'

I knew nothing about reincarnation until I read a news story in 1969 about a woman who was hypnotized by a friend for some problem she had. While under hypnosis she started speaking in German, which she didn't know otherwise. Her friend recorded it and had a high school German teacher translate. She was a young girl in the 17 or 1800's. The article mentioned that this was similar to the "Bridey Murphy Case" of 1956. I started reading books about reincarnation and several years later found the paperback copy of "Bridey Murphy" at a used book sale. I've never seen the movie. The Bridey Murphy story is what led Dr. Ian Stevenson to begin his research in the 1960's.